I have used this recipe from the first time I tried it.  No sense fooling around with any other recipe when you have one straight from the Master - Paul Prudhomme!  Make it as spicy as you want by adding extra cayenne or habanero powder.  You'll be saying "BOOYAH!!".

While this may seem like a complicated dish to make in your RV kitchen,  you can chop the vegetables in advance and put them in a zip lock bag.  The cajun seasoning can be made ahead too.  This dish can be frozen successfully and reheated easily.

1 (2-3 pound) chicken, all visible fat removed, cut into 8 pieces

2 tablespoons, plus 2 teaspoons

1 cup finely diced onions

1 cup finely diced green bell peppers

3/4 cup finely diced celery

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Vegetable oil for frying

7 cups chicken stock

1/2 pound Andouille Smoked Sausage or Kielbasa, diced into 1/2-inch cubes

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

2 cups hot cooked white rice

Sprinkle the chicken evenly with 2 tablespoons of the Cajun seasoning and rub it in well.  Let stand at room temperature while you dice the vegetables.

Combine the onions, bell peppers and celery in a bowl and set aside.

Combine the remaining Cajun seasoning with the flour in a paper or plastic bag.  Add the seasoned chicken pieces and shake until the chicken is well coated.  Reserve ½ cup of the seasoned flour.  Heat 1½ inches of oil in a large, heavy skillet over high heat until very hot (375°F to 400°F), about 6 to 7 minutes.  Fry the chicken, skin side down and large pieces first, until the crust is brown on both sides and the meat is cooked, about 5 to 8 minutes per side .  You may have to fry the chicken in batches.  Drain on paper towels.  Carefully pour the hot oil into a heatproof glass measuring cup, leaving some of the brown bits in the pan, then return ½ cup of the hot oil to the pan.

Return the pan to high heat and gradually whisk in the reserved ½ cup seasoned flour.  Cook, whisking constantly, until the roux is dark red-brown, about 3½ to 4 minutes, being careful not to let it scorch or splash on your skin.  Remove the pan from the heat and immediately add the vegetables, stirring constantly until the roux stops getting darker.  Place the pan over low heat and cook, stirring constantly and scraping the pan bottom well, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring the stock to a boil in a 5½-quart saucepan or Dutch oven.  Add the vegetable mixture by spoonfuls to the boiling stock, stirring between each addition until the roux is dissolved.  Return to a boil, stirring and scraping the pan bottom often.  Reduce the heat to low, stir in the Andouille and garlic, and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring often toward the end of the cooking time.

While the gumbo is simmering, pull the cooked chicken off the bones with your fingers and set it aside.  When the gumbo has cooked for 45 minutes, stir in the chicken.

Serve immediately.  To serve as a main course, mound 1/3 cup cooked rice in the center of a low soup bowl, and ladle about 1¼ cups gumbo around the rice.  For an appetizer, place 2 heaping tablespoons cooked rice in a cup and ladle about ¾ cup gumbo on top.

Cajun Seasoning:

• 3/4 cup salt
• 1/4 cup ground cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons ground white pepper
• 2 tablespoons ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder

Classic Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.pdf